"I'm too old for most things … Superman is just one in a very long list," the actor, 39, said on E!'s SAG red carpet special.

On Sunday morning, Henry Cavill, the British actor best known for this work on Showtime's period drama The Tudors, was cast as the iconic superhero. "In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognized and revered character of all time, and I am honored to be a part of his return to the big screen," director by Zack Snyder said in a statement. "I also join Warner Bros., Legendary and the producers in saying how excited we are about the casting of Henry. He is the perfect choice to don the cape and 'S' shield."